Reform measures usher in significant improvement in Ctg port
Saturday, 18 August 2007
CHITTAGONG, Aug 17 (BSS): Stakeholders, particularly the people involved in export-import trade, have expressed the opinion that the country's principal seaport --- Chittagong port --- witnessed a significant improvement in productivity, efficiency and cost reduction following implementation of massive reforms during the past seven months by the Army-led joint forces.
Port and shipping sources have also viewed that it (the port) is now functioning smoothly and is gradually achieving competitive edge like other reputed seaports in this region through optimum utilisation of structural and infrastructural capacities with the involvement of private sector apart from steps taken to check corruption and streamlining the reckless trade union activities.
"Negative image of the port as a costly and slow one declined to a great extent and its level of productivity and efficiency have increased remarkably following the reform measures," M A Latif, senior vice-president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( CCCI), said.
Acting First Vice President of BGMEA Mohammad Ferdous, expressing his satisfaction over the present performance of the port, said, "Much of the problems of the garments sector originated from the poor port services and excess cost in export-import process, but these problems now seem to have gone".
The operational activities of the port, which earned bad reputation for poor services coupled with corruption and frequent disruption of operation due to the activities of trade union organisations and political turmoil, have not been disturbed for a single day during the past seven months after taking office of the incumbent caretaker government in last January.
Sources said execution of reform measures in an organised way resulted in a remarkable positive change in the port and it can be an important and major port in this region if the present trend of growth is continued and made sustainable.
"We are determined to continue the current trend of improvement in all major areas, particularly the level of service and dynamism, to facilitate the export-import trade and efforts are being made to turn it an international standard port with further necessary improvement," Commodore Muhammad Farooq, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), told the news agency.
CPA sources said the port handled 2,91,53,525 tonnes of cargo in the fiscal 2005-2006 while 3,02,94,748 tonnes in 2006-2007 raising the growth rate to 3.91 per cent.
On the other hand, the growth rate in terms of container handling was 10.46 per cent as a total of 9,13,704 TEUs (twenty equivalent unit) of containers was handled through the port during the fiscal 2006-2007 as against 8,27,174 TEUs in the fiscal 2005-2006.
Port and shipping sources have also viewed that it (the port) is now functioning smoothly and is gradually achieving competitive edge like other reputed seaports in this region through optimum utilisation of structural and infrastructural capacities with the involvement of private sector apart from steps taken to check corruption and streamlining the reckless trade union activities.
"Negative image of the port as a costly and slow one declined to a great extent and its level of productivity and efficiency have increased remarkably following the reform measures," M A Latif, senior vice-president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( CCCI), said.
Acting First Vice President of BGMEA Mohammad Ferdous, expressing his satisfaction over the present performance of the port, said, "Much of the problems of the garments sector originated from the poor port services and excess cost in export-import process, but these problems now seem to have gone".
The operational activities of the port, which earned bad reputation for poor services coupled with corruption and frequent disruption of operation due to the activities of trade union organisations and political turmoil, have not been disturbed for a single day during the past seven months after taking office of the incumbent caretaker government in last January.
Sources said execution of reform measures in an organised way resulted in a remarkable positive change in the port and it can be an important and major port in this region if the present trend of growth is continued and made sustainable.
"We are determined to continue the current trend of improvement in all major areas, particularly the level of service and dynamism, to facilitate the export-import trade and efforts are being made to turn it an international standard port with further necessary improvement," Commodore Muhammad Farooq, chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), told the news agency.
CPA sources said the port handled 2,91,53,525 tonnes of cargo in the fiscal 2005-2006 while 3,02,94,748 tonnes in 2006-2007 raising the growth rate to 3.91 per cent.
On the other hand, the growth rate in terms of container handling was 10.46 per cent as a total of 9,13,704 TEUs (twenty equivalent unit) of containers was handled through the port during the fiscal 2006-2007 as against 8,27,174 TEUs in the fiscal 2005-2006.